The Meridian Collision Center held its 4th Annual Rod and Custom Show in South Hill last weekend, and it served as a glorious beginning to the neighborhood block parties and community festivals coming to our area throughout the summer season.

Under sunny summer skies – almost scorching at times – about 180 super snazzy cars descended upon the Meridian Collision site at 157th St and formed the nucleus of the festival.

The Rod and Custom Show was also an occaision to raise money for community charities via an auction, and this year part of the funds went to help support the family of a recently deceased employee of Meridian Collision, while the remainder was slated for the Rescue Mission of Pierce County.

“The community’s been good to Meridian Collision for the past 42 years, and now it’s time for us to give something back,” said Meridian owner Bill Jorgensen.

Jorgensen said their goal was to raise $5,000 during the show.

Ken Shoemaker working the crowd during the fund-raising auction for the Rescue Mission of Pierce County.

The Rescue Mission of Pierce County (TRMPC) was formerly known as the Tacoma Rescue Mission, and the recent name-change reflects their expanding mission to serve the entire county with shelters for homeless men, women and families and also to assist with job training, parenting skills and substance abuse.

“We offer people a ‘New Life Program,’” said Boyd Brathwaite of the TRMPC. “It has a wide variety of transitional programs to help people make meaningful changes in their life.”

Regarding the cars, the quality of workmanship and restoration detail was superb. In addition, a hyper-fueled injection race car was on display, courtesy of Gasparelli Racing.

The Gasparelli drag-racer, in orange, was one of the highlights of the 4th Annual Rod and Custorm Show at Meridian Collision.

Other entertainment was provided by Ken Shoemaker, a Meridian employee who is also a professional DJ. Surfing music and muscle car anthems blared over the speakers and added a refreshing gaiety to the event as the sun sizzled.

“It’s been a great day,” said Tim Dorsey, owner of a restored red, 1962 Studebaker with a hot GT supercharged V-8 engine. “It’s about time we got some good weather.”

As for the car, “Yeah, she runs pretty good,” Tim acknowledged with a smile.